An inside look at why billionaires buy into money-losing Major League Soccer (hint: It’s not really losing money)

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https://theathletic.com/1323054/2019/10/30/an-inside-look-at-why-billionaires-buy-into-money-losing-major-league-soccer-hint-its-not-really-losing-money/

An inside look at why billionaires buy into money-losing Major League Soccer (hint: It’s not really losing money)

With the addition of Sacramento Republic FC, Major League Soccer will gain a new squad of players, a new stadium, and a new home city to its ranks. It will also add another billionaire investor. That would be Ron Burkle, the LA private equity mogul and Pittsburgh Penguins owner who is also majority owner of the Sacramento team that MLS announced a week ago, to begin play in 2022.

An MLS team seems like a normal investment for Burkle to be making on its face; after all, plenty of billionaires the world over own sports teams. But MLS ownership is unique in several respects, including one big one: the league has never turned a profit in its history.

For big-money investors like Burkle, what’s the appeal?

The answer is multifaceted, and reflective of the complexity of modern sports economics. Burkle and others aren’t merely buying teams. They’re buying into profitable companion businesses as well. At its simplest, an MLS club’s seasonal bottom line is...

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https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/new-st-louis-mls-stadium-renderings-released/63-971d8763-72c8-4747-9b68-9cfe3934a5ea

New St. Louis MLS stadium renderings released

The newest renderings for the St. Louis MLS stadium show it being located north of Market Street near Union Station, with practice fields to the south.

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https://ussoccerplayers.com/2019/10/there-is-no-david-vs-goliath-in-mls.html

THERE IS NO DAVID VS GOLIATH IN MLS

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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2019/10/30/sacramento-republic-fc-hoop-jumping-wins-entry-mls/

Sacramento Republic FC: Hoop-jumping wins entry into MLS

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https://www.kmov.com/sports/mls-stadium-will-go-north-of-market-street-practice-fields/article_42882e24-fa7f-11e9-8c0b-7357a1fb5573.html

Renderings give glimpse at how MLS stadium will change downtown St. Louis

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https://www.trifectanetworksports.com/mccoy-stadium-future-remains-uncertain-announcement-date-unclear/

McCoy Stadium Future Remains Uncertain, Announcement Date Unclear

Following next season the Pawtucket Red Sox will no longer call McCoy Stadium their home. Triple-A Pawtucket following the 2020 season will move to the City of Worcester leaving McCoy Stadium and Pawtucket barren of a professional sports team.

With that move comes a feeling of uncertainty about the future of the ballpark and sports within the Downtown Pawtucket area. Earlier this year the City of Pawtucket and CommerceRI put out an RFP to find potential partners in developing the McCoy and Downtown Pawtucket area.

Foolishly the parties involved gave themselves a timeline to announce a decision regarding the RFP submissions. Perhaps it was a bit of showmanship but Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grieben had said back in July that an announcement was expected by the end of September. Well, that timetable came and passed with all parties involved being rater mute on the topic up until last week.

Talks Are Heating Up

City and state officials met several times throughout the week. This included a closed-door session. During the session, CommereRI recommended officials to start the negotiating process with the parties involved in the proposals. As of right now, officials aren’t ready to make any type of official announcement related to the bid.

McCoy Stadium

An interesting note was published by Ethan Shorey of the Valley Breeze this week on the status of McCoy Stadium itself. Pawtucket’s’ Director of Administration Dylan Zelazo told him that “we’re on a separate track” when talking about McCoy. This sort of confirms the notion that I floated at the end of September. Baseball continuing at McCoy is going to take some additional muscle in terms of financing. A study in 2017 had the cost of getting McCoy back up to the basic level of code and amenities would cost $68 million. This is why many are now pointing towards soccer being a potential sports element of the Down Pawtucket project.

A soccer venue in a USL type of league can be built for $15 million and would be multi-purpose use for area football and lacrosse teams. Personally, soccer has been a no-brainer for years. It just makes sense given the market and the growing popularity of the sport in the United States.

List of Proposals from RFP

Minor League Baseball for Pawtucket, a group of local RI business leaders and community members are proposing that both the state and the city of Pawtucket look to continue to have a minor league team in the city. This play is being pushed by Mike Tamburro, a long-time PawSox Executive.

Brett Johnson of Fortuitous Partners is proposing to founding a United Soccer League (USL) franchise in downtown Pawtucket with the goal being to build a multi-sport stadium. Within the proposal, it calls for McCoy Stadium being a mixed facility with multiple fields for various sports.

It is worth noting that the New England Revolution is now launching a USL side in 2020. Unclear how this would affect this bid. Within this proposal, there was a callout for bringing an Atlantic League pro-ball to McCoy Stadium. The Atlantic Baseball option is the preferred one in my opinion when it comes to baseball.

Pawtucket

Apex, a site that needs re-development

One proposal by AJAX Advisors LLC is proposing bringing an independent soccer club into Downtown in a new stadium development leaving McCoy to be turned into industrial work.

There were two out of the box proposals, one by Level Exchange calling for infrastructure to support the entertainment industry with a hub surrounded by the music industry.

The other by Native Waters Investments, LLC. Their proposal called for a Riverfront development that would include amusement park rides, bowling alleys, theaters, restaurants, and retail, as well as a riverboat hotel.

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https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/Loyal-SC-Unveiled-as-San-Diegos-New-Pro-Soccer-Club-564294021.html?akmobile=o

SPORTS

"Loyal SC" Unveiled as San Diego's New Pro Soccer Club

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https://gritdaily.com/nasl-legacy-lessons/

Gone But Not Forgotten: The Legacy and Lessons of the NASL

This is the third and final article in a three-part series on the history of the NASL and its lasting impact on American soccer. Read parts one and two here to get the full story.

The NASL has a lot in common with MLS, and the latter has built off of the league in countless ways.

From business models to players, stadiums, and even the teams of MLS themselves, here’s how the NASL played a major role in the development of the newer league and American soccer as a whole.

Legacy Lives On

The most obvious impact the NASL has had is also one of the most simple.

Pure nostalgia.

Before MLS came along, the NASL had by far the most cultural impact of any soccer league in America. With the return of a major league, it made since to build off of that footprint and bring back those teams.

Look at some clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps? Won two Soccer Bowls in the NASL. Portland Timbers? Played seven seasons in the league before folding in 1982.

The San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders of MLS are also named after their NASL predecessors, along with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL among other squads.

Many of those teams were actually the third or fourth franchise to carry the name of an NASL club. Commonly, a successful second tier franchise would carry a moniker from the NASL, technically dissolve, and then would be reborn as an MLS expansion team or join a new league. Examples include the Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, and several other clubs.

In some cases, the revival wasn’t even intended. When Tulsa landed a USL club, a fan vote brought back the Tulsa Roughnecks name without the team even trying to resurrect the brand.

But the NASL hasn’t just inspired phoenix clubs. It has inspired a whole phoenix league.

The new NASL kicked off in 2011 as a second tier league featuring revivals of the New York Cosmos and Fort Lauderdale Strikers to name a few.

Unfortunately, the league was not as successful as its predecessor. The “new NASL” is currently in a state of limbo after losing its second tier status, and only time will tell if it survives.

A Tale of Two Leagues

At the time, both the NASL and MLS were and are the top level of American soccer. As such, they’re bound to have similarities.

Both leagues have shared a reputation as a “retirement home” for aging veterans. Think about the well-known players that both the NASL and MLS have drawn throughout their histories.

First, a look at the NASL: Pelé? Played his last match for the Cosmos. Beckenbauer? Retired after returning to the Cosmos for one last season. George Best? Retired just a few years after leaving the US. Similar stories with Johan Cyruff, Rodney Marsh, and other legends.

Now, compare it to MLS: David Beckham? Played one last season for PSG a year after leaving the LA Galaxy. Thierry Henry? Retired after his last season with the New York Red Bulls. Zlatan? Who knows what will happen with Zlatan, but he may not have too much time left in the US.

It should be noted that MLS has begun to focus on attracting and developing younger players, but it’s hard to tear down the “retirement home” image the league has given itself.

In addition, both leagues have had a focus on building up youth soccer in the US–although that looked very different in the NASL’s day.

Teams from the league would appoint players to visit schools to introduce kids to a game they’ve never heard of. On at least one occasion, students took soccer balls brought by a player and started shooting and dribbling them like basketballs. They didn’t know any better.

Now, MLS teams have full academies. The league is trying to develop a youth soccer culture on par with Europe’s, although that is a distant goal.

A huge change from nearly forty years ago.

Lessons Learned

MLS has also learned from the mistakes and limitations of the NASL.

The latter struggled with poor ownership, so MLS owns a stake in each of their teams and carefully vets all potential ownership groups.

An arms race over salaries led to many NASL clubs folding, so MLS has a salary cap to prevent that from happening.

The NASL played on football and baseball fields, which created a seemingly empty atmosphere and hurt the quality of play. Many MLS teams now have soccer specific stadiums, creating  intimate and exciting environments even if attendance is the same as at what it would be at a larger field.

Over and over and over again, the story is the same. MLS built off of something the NASL did first, and usually MLS was able to do it better as a result.

Perhaps MLS would have become what it is today even without the NASL, but it surely would have been a much tougher road to get to where it is now without the foundation provided by the elder league.

When you look at all of these factors and put them all together, one thing becomes clear.

The NASL died so MLS could live.

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https://headlinezpro.com/is-german-star-mesut-ozil-heading-to-the-states/

IS GERMAN STAR MESUT OZIL HEADING TO THE STATES?

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/hillsborough/2019/10/31/cephas-gilbert-to-close-his-ybor-city-jamaican-restaurant/

HILLSBOROUGH

Cephas Gilbert to close his Ybor City Jamaican restaurant

He will continue serving his iconic aloe shakes at a nearby juice bar on Seventh Avenue.
Cephas Gilbert who has operated the Jamaican restaurant Cephas' Hot Shop in Ybor for nearly four decades is semi-retiring. Gilbert is closing his restaurant and looking to open a small juice bar on 7th Avenue to sell his aloe shakes and other healthy drinks. [OCTAVIO JONES | Times]

Cephas Gilbert admits that his aloe shakes are bitter.

But the health benefits of the blended drinks, made only with water, ice and aloe scraped fresh from a leaf, Gilbert preaches, are worth the...

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https://theminaretonline.com/2019/10/31/conquer-boredom-with-these-cool-tampa-spots/

Conquer boredom with these cool Tampa spots

The Tampa Bay area is full of different neighborhoods and fun activities, catering to anybody’s interests and tastes. Whether it’s Hyde Park, Ybor City or Downtown Tampa, there are dozens of restaurants and cool things to do.

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is a prime spot for tailgates, festivals, free concerts and other events. The grassy area provides space for all types of activities, such as a game of touch football or a quick workout. Students can view exhibits for free at the Tampa Museum of Art and receive a discounted rate at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, both of which are located on either side of the park. Next to the Hillsborough river sits the Tampa riverwalk, which is ideal for running, bike riding or walking a pet.

“I enjoy [Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park] chiefly because there are all sorts of creative events happening, from art festivals to vintage car shows,” said sophomore English major, Lilly Seaver. “It’s also a great place to just chill out and relax.”

Downtown Tampa

Home of the Florida Aquarium and Amalie Arena, Downtown Tampa holds many exploration opportunities and places to grab a quick bite. Popular restaurants like Eddie and Sam’s, Taco Bus and Vale are all located in the city, but be sure to check out lesser known spots, like Fusion Bowl, Bamboozle Cafe and Mole Y Abuela. Not in the mood for food? Motorized scooters are scattered throughout the city and some brands cost less than 50 cents a minute.

“I definitely recommend spending a day downtown visiting the art museum, the theatre for a tour and any of the coffee shops there,” said junior advertising and public relations major, Amanda Maxim. There are so many things you can do downtown.”

Ybor City

Ybor is the place to go for clubbing, tattoos and concerts. Venues like The Ritz Ybor, The Crowbar and The Orpheum are popular for smaller bands and artists and usually have low ticket prices. Located in the heart of Ybor are Club Prana, The Castle and Coyote Ugly. Ybor is also home to many restaurants like The Bricks, The Blind Tiger Cafe and Mama Rosa’s Pizza, which is the place to go for a 2 a.m. slice of margherita pizza.

“I would definitely recommend taking a trip to The Blind Tiger cafe in Ybor where the latte is done right,” said Seaver.

This neighborhood is rich with history and walking tours are available for anybody who is interested in finding out more.

“The tour I took in Ybor was fantastic. I never knew how important the city of Tampa was, specifically Ybor, many years ago,” said Maxim. “Did you know, there is a garden called the Jose Mari park that is considered part of Cuba? How cool is that.”

Although it isn’t a quick 10 minute walk from campus like Curtis Hixon, Ybor is only a 15 minute free trolley ride from Downtown Tampa.

Hyde Park Village

Hyde Park Village features a number of stores, restaurants and events that cater to anybody. On the first Sunday of every month is the Fresh Market farmer’s market inside of Hyde Park where 90 to 125 vendors sell their products. Also, every fall, Hyde Park Village has a pumpkin patch, where a portion of the proceeds go to a local charity.

“I love Hyde Park Village because it has my favorite restaurant, Bar Taco, and it has my favorite coffee shop, Buddy Brew,” said sophomore communications major, Morgan Finger.

Other restaurants include The Hyppo Gourmet Popsicles, Sprinkles Cupcakes and Meat Market Tampa.

Sporting Events

Located in Downtown Tampa, Amalie Arena is the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. During hockey season, games occur weekly. Students get discounted rates for tickets through Student Rush, where prices are only $25. More of a football fan? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USF Bulls have weekly games too. Baseball fans have a place to see the games in Tampa at Tropicana Field. Located in St. Petersburg, Tropicana Field is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Students are able to receive discounted tickets for Tampa baseball as well.

Activities

Tampa isn’t only for shopping and sports. Busch Gardens, located near USF, is the place to go for roller coaster and theme park junkies. They also offer a student annual pass that is valid for 12 months and gives free parking and other discounts.

In addition, there are paintball fields in Tampa, with Blitzkrieg Paintball being the closest to UT. This paintball center has four different fields, all with various types of bunkers and objects to hide behind. For a fun activity on the water, rent a paddleboard, kayak or water bike and paddle down the Hillsborough River.

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/openings-closings/article/21095057/cephas-closing-ybor-jamaican-restaurant-then-opening-juice-and-aloe-bar-on-seventh-avenue

Ybor Jamaican restaurant Cephas will close this November

But don't worry, he's opening a juice and aloe bar on Seventh Avenue.

RAY ROA  OCT 31, 2019 10 AM 0  Tweet  Share

Cephas Creative Loafing Tampa Kimberly De Falco

Cephas Gilbert, pictured outside his Jamaican restaurant in Ybor City, Florida.
PHOTO BY KIMBERLY DEFALCO

Cephas Gilbert tells it like it is. He did it years ago, when I first visited his Fourth Avenue shake shack and he correctly guessed my height and weight.

“You’re fat,” he said afterwards. He told me to stop eating shrimp, too. It was his way of telling me I could afford to make healthier eating decisions. He was right. So I had one of his icy aloe shakes. And when I ate jerk chicken from Cephas’ restaurant, I almost always got veggies as a side inside of rice.

“Good choice,” Cephas would say about my small victory. For a short period of my life, I spent a lot of time in the shake window, watching DVDs of Cephas, now 68 years old, talking about aloe and waiting on a box of food. On cold nights, I warmed up with his tamarind tea.

In a lot of ways, being around Cephas is a way to engage in the kind of straight talk most of our friends don’t give us. Cephas’ brand of kindness is rare in this day and age, and it’ll be missed when his restaurant — located on the corner of Fourth Avenue and 17th Street in Ybor City for almost 40 years — closes its doors at the end of November.

That’s according to the Tampa Bay Times, which shared the news, along with some cool portraits by Octavio Jones, this morning.

The good news for Ybor City, however, is that Cephas plans on opening a juice and aloe bar inside of Tequila’s Mexican restaurant at 1613 E. 7th Ave. Tequila’s owner Jason Fernandez told the Times that buildout on Cephas’ corner of the Tequila’s courtyard begins soon, which means that you’ll be able to buy an aloe shake (along with tamarind juice, carrot juice and more) on your way to the bar.

Just don’t tell Cephas about the dirty deeds you’re doing.

Want to know everything going on with Tampa Bay's food and drink scene? Sign up for our Bites newsletter.

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/lifestyle/taste-and-see/best-2019-haunted-houses-halloween-attractions-in-the-tampa-bay-area

Best 2019 haunted houses & Halloween attractions in the Tampa Bay area

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https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/spooky-convention-takes-over-tampa-convention-center

"Spooky" convention takes over Tampa Convention Center

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https://www.cltampa.com/food-drink/openings-closings/article/21095148/mitas-kitchen-the-lions-den-is-moving-into-the-former-cephas-space-in-ybor

Mita's Kitchen & The Lion's Den is moving into the former Cepha's space in Ybor

The doors are expected to open in December.

After nearly 40 years in service, Ybor City Jamaican restaurant Cephas Hot Shop is closing its doors at the end of November, and we already know who's moving into the location at 1701 E. 4th Ave.

The old Cephas is set to be the new home of Mita's Kitchen & The Lion's Den, which is currently located above Ybor City's Big Easy Bar at 1704 1/2 E. 7th Ave., the restaurant confirmed to CL in a Facebook message.

The new location hopes to be moved in by December and that "this move is going to bring something new and exciting to Ybor." The company did not answer any of CL's questions about whether or not the current Mita's Kitchen & Lion's Den would be closing, or if the new location would continue the tradition of being a late-night hub that offers up cigars, handcrafted cocktails and servers up traditional Latin fare.

And if you're still shook about Cephas, don't worry: Cephas said that he plans to run a juice and aloe stand outside of the Tequila's courtyard on Seventh Avenue.

Hours for Mita's Kitchen & The Lion's Den on Seventh Avenue are 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 3 p.m.-3 a.m. Thursday, noon-3 a.m. Friday-Sunday.

Want to know everything going on with Tampa Bay's food and drink scene? Sign up for our Bites newsletter.

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https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2019/10/31/2020-vision-sources-cosmos-apply-to-join-nisa/

2020 VISION: Sources: Cosmos apply to join NISA

The New York Cosmos, who have hopes of competing in a new league in 2020, have taken an important step toward reaching that goal.

They have submitted an application to join the National Independent Soccer Association for the 2020 season, national soccer sources said Thursday afternoon. As it’s names states, NISA is an independent soccer league not associated, for example, with the USL’s, multi-tier structure of lower-division soccer.

The league’s application deadline for U.S. Soccer is Nov. 1. It was not known when the Cosmos applied to enter the league, but it appeared to be days prior to the deadline.

The Cosmos did not have a comment about their application.

NISA commissioner John Prutch would not comment on it as well, saying that he doesn’t talk about applicants or future applicants to the league.

The Cosmos were forced to seek a new league after the National Premier Soccer League announced new rules would be implemented for next season restricting the use of professional players. They did not have many viable options at the professional level, although NISA looked promising particularly because several other former NPSL clubs will compete there next spring, including NPSL Members Cup champion Detroit City FC, NPSL champ Miami FC, Chattanooga FC and Michigan Stars FC, among other clubs.

Besides the NISA board of governors approving new teams, they also need to be vetted by U.S. Soccer as well, Prutch said in that Oct. 14 interview.

“The process is fairly complex,” he said in that interview. “There are a lot of requirements from U.S. Soccer that we have to go through. It is somewhat time consuming. Once that’s done, then we go down a parallel path with U.S. Soccer as they are approving the new clubs. We are as well with the league. We approve them before U.S. Soccer does.”

The approval process includes an application review by the board of governors, the team’s owners, a presentation by the prospective club and a vote.

The North American Soccer League, led by Cosmos owner Rocco B. Commisso, has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. Whether that legal action will affect aby members of the board of governors’ decision remains to be seen. The Cosmos competed in the NASL from 2013-17.

In 2019, the Cosmos participated in two leagues, finishing as runners-up in both. They dropped a 3-1 home decision to Miami FC in the NPSL final Aug. 3 and took second place behind Detroit City FC in the Members Cup with a 7-1-2 record.


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https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/mls4thelou-photos/63-a82c626c-c500-406f-a179-b1dc6d259405

SPORTS

‘One-of-a-kind MLS fan experience’ | MLS4THELOU releases plan for mixed-use stadium district

The proposed MLS stadium will now expand north of Market between 20th and 22nd Streets.

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https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/charleston-battery-sold-to-new-owner-after-tumultuous-years-under/article_31a69d94-fa8d-11e9-befd-8315d8114ee5.html

Charleston Battery sold to new owner after 3 tumultuous years under former leadership

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https://www.ksbw.com/article/usl-football-club-could-find-a-new-home-on-the-monterey-peninsula/29645992#

USL football club could find a new home on the Monterey peninsula

SEASIDE, Calif. — A former track and field stadium that has since been paved over and is now used for college graduations could be the next home for professional soccer.

The stadium is located at CSU Monterey Bay and a professional soccer team owner with ties to the Monterey peninsula wants it to be the stadium for his team, currently known as the Fresno Football club which is part of the United Soccer League.

“I’m really excited about the potential that this area brings for professional soccer I think the community will be excited I think they’ll be very pleased,” said club owner Ray Beshoff who owns a home on the peninsula.

After two years playing in Fresno, Beshoff got tired of waiting for a new soccer stadium.

In order to be successful Beshoff says his team needs their own stadium.

“You have concessions you have other events going on and you have parking and maybe stadium rights that people pay for. Obviously the more income you generate it means better fan experience it means you can get better players because the player payroll is significant,” said Beshoff.

A spokesman for CSUMB confirmed the university is in talks with the soccer club owner.

Beshoff says it would be a shared deal with the university and he would anticipate roughly a year of stadium renovations before play can begin.

“I think it’s a terrific area I really love the soccer enthusiasm that get in Salinas so Monterey would definitely be one of my top choices and so right now that’s where we’re leaning,” said Beshoff.

If a deal can be reached Beshoff says he would bring his team to Monterey county for the 2021 season.

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https://www.prosoccerusa.com/usl/usl-charleston-battery-new-owner-venue-salvatore-2019/

USL: Charleston Battery get new owner, new venue

The club was sold to HCFC, LLC, a group led by Rob Salvatore.

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https://sporttechie.com/fifa-esports-cormac-doolsta-dooley-mls-expansion-club-nashville-sc

FIFA Esports Player Cormac ‘Doolsta’ Dooley Joins MLS Expansion Club Nashville SC

MLS expansion club Nashville SC has signed professional FIFA esports player Cormac Dooley to represent the club in the 2020 eMLS season. Nashville SC will begin play in MLS next year.

Dooley, better known as Doolsta, is a 19-year-old from Ireland who won all three eMLS tournaments played last season while representing the Philadelphia Union’s eMLS team. By transferring to Nashville SC, Doolsta will be the club’s first esports athlete. He is currently a freshman at Temple University in Philadelphia and will have his college expenses covered by Nashville SC as part of his new contract.

“I’m grateful for the team giving me a platform where I can attend college and earn a degree, while continuing to compete at the highest level,” Doolsta said in a press release. He is pursuing a degree in sports management while playing on the school’s club soccer team.

Fellow expansion clubs Austin FC and Los Angeles FC are also joining eMLS in 2020, bringing the total number of teams in the league to 25. New York Red Bulls eMLS player Mike LaBelle discussed his journey climbing through the ranks of competitive FIFA in an interview with Joe Lemire.

Another professional FIFA player, 19-year-old Mosaad Al-Dossary from Saudi Arabia, recently became the first esports athlete signed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation talent agency.

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http://www.laloyolan.com/sports/soccer/el-tr-fico-turns-los-angeles-into-soccer-city/article_5b0fde8c-27ae-5dcc-8c0e-aa253292ba86.html

"El Tráfico" turns Los Angeles into soccer city

This past Thursday night, Los Angeles was the center of attention in the world of American soccer. It was the night of the “El Tráfico” rivalry between the Los Angles Football Club (LAFC) and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Not only was it a game between bitter rivals, but it was also a single elimination playoff game with both teams battling for a spot in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Western Conference Finals.

By the time the dust settled in downtown L.A., LAFC emerged victorious in a thrilling match that finished 5-3 in favor of the home team. LAFC got off to a hot start with their captain and MLS’s MVP Carlos Vela putting two past Galaxy keeper David Bingham in the first half.

The Galaxy responded well, scoring a double of their own through attackers Cristian Pavón and Zlatan Ibrahimović, tying the game at two apiece. In the latter stages of the match, LAFC took control of proceedings, notching their goal tally to five and leaving the Galaxy’s season dead and buried.

Although the result of last week’s playoff game was important to both teams, the real significance of this rivalry fixture comes from what it means to play soccer in the city of Los Angeles.

When I got out of my car Thursday night upon arriving home, I heard a commotion coming from my neighbor’s living room. He was yelling “finish that” and jumping in anticipation. I checked my phone: Diego Rossi had just scored against the Galaxy, putting LAFC up 3-2 in the 66th minute.

As a fan of the Galaxy, I was obviously disappointed. But as a fan of soccer in our city, I was ecstatic. Passion for the beautiful game like my neighbor’s is becoming increasingly common in Los Angeles. The rivalry between the Galaxy and LAFC has served as the catalyst for this explosion of interest and attention.

The rivalry between the two has only existed for two seasons, but has already given us plenty of classic games and iconic moments. Before a ball was even kicked between the two teams, El Tráfico’s first rendition in March 2018 was highly anticipated. It more than lived up to the hype. With the Galaxy trailing 3-0, Ibrahimović rose off the bench to score two goals and fuel a famous comeback which ended in a 4-3 Galaxy win. This first edition of the rivalry made headlines and set the tone for all the ensuing meetings between the two L.A.-based clubs.

The rivalry first garnered attention out of curiosity. Now,  people tune in because of the drama on display whenever these teams meet. In soccer, where it can be easy for big games to fall flat, LAFC and the Galaxy have always delivered on their promises of entertainment. The two clubs’ leading men, Vela and Ibrahimović, have each scored nine goals in the six matches between the two clubs. The two teams, on average, combine to score five total match goals each time they face off. Each time these two meet, we get high scoring back and forth games that feature the talents of the two biggest names in MLS.

El Tráfico is the undisputed premiere fixture in MLS. In terms of ratings, it draws some of the best numbers in MLS. The aura surrounding the game is unparalleled in American club soccer. It has the two biggest stars in MLS in Vela and Ibrahimović. It creates a media buzz that no other game can replicate. The passion from both sets of fans is electric. Its setting in Los Angeles leads it to attract national attention. All around, it just feels like a big game — no matter the context.

All of this, yet the rivalry is still in its infancy. This game has already done so much for soccer saliency in Los Angeles. It is exciting to think what it may do going forward.

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https://montrealgazette.com/sports/jack-todd-ex-rays-split-team-could-alleviate-painful-memory-of-blue-monday

Jack Todd: Ex-Rays split team could alleviate painful memory of Blue Monday

Along with the baseball strike in 1994 and the final Expos game at the Olympic Stadium 10 years later, Blue Monday is one of the trio of events we all associate with the death of the Expos.

In my neck of the woods, Blue Monday — Oct. 19, 1981 — was a personal as well as a public downer.

My marriage had collapsed. I had taken a job in New York City and had returned to Montreal only to finish closing down my apartment before I left. The apartment was almost bereft of furniture — a mattress, a couple of chairs, a table, a small black-and-white TV set.

It didn’t matter, I was only going to be in Montreal for a couple of days. But then I came down with pneumonia and a couple of days became a couple of weeks. I lived on chicken soup and the support provided by Dr. Sam Shuldiner, who ambled down from his office to check on me — a rare event in medicine, even then.

But necessity can become virtue. I was sustained from one day to the next by the Expos’ dramatic playoff run, the one that ended on Blue Monday with Rick Monday’s dramatic home run off Steve Rogers.

Devastated, I walked down to the pharmacy on Queen Mary Rd. to get a prescription filled. I waited with a group of elderly women who were as despondent after the loss as I was. Blue Monday cut wide and deep. It seemed that all of Montreal felt it.

We feel it still. Along with the baseball strike in 1994 and the final Expos game at the Olympic Stadium 10 years later, Blue Monday is one of the trio of events we all associate with that painful, drawn-out experience, the death of the Expos.

When the Nationals won the World Series 38 years after Blue Monday (on a Wednesday, for the record), that long-ago event was the first thing that came to mind. As I watched the deliriously happy Nationals cavort on the field in Houston, I wondered: Would this victory for the movable franchise expunge any of what happened to the Expos in 1981 or 1994 or 2004?

The answer was a blunt no. Not for me. And not, if my email is any indication, for the majority of fans in Montreal. Their allegiance, if any remained, drifted to other teams — the Red Sox, the Yankees, even the Blue Jays. Perhaps one in 100 made the emotional move to Washington D.C. with the Nationals, but most fans went in another direction or turned their back on baseball forever.

Or almost forever.

No sooner had the Nationals finished winning the World Series than the news broke out of Florida that Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg had formally asked the city of St. Petersburg (which holds the apparently ironclad lease on his stadium) for permission to move to a shared arrangement with Montreal.

That news was a bit misleading. It wasn’t new, for one thing. St. Petersburg city policy chief Kevin King told the Tampa Bay Times the request had actually been made “long ago.” Mayor Rick Kriseman initially refused to confirm the news, then would say only that the Rays have “clearly expressed their desire to explore a split season with Montreal.”

As yet, Kriseman added, nothing has been put in writing. Kriseman said he could not recall at what point the request went from informal to formal, nor would he say what demands the team made nor what concessions the Rays were prepared to offer. Stephen Bronfman, leader of the Montreal group, confined himself to saying that the formal request represents another positive step.

On the surface, it seems like a concept that could not possibly be sold in Florida, much less in Montreal. Both cities would need new ballparks for this to work — but why would Tampa or St. Petersburg back a stadium project for half a season?

The key here is what has been missing from Montreal since the Expos moved out of much-loved Jarry Park: an open-air ballpark. By going to two open-air parks, the Ex-Rays (I defy anyone to come up with a better moniker for a shared team, no matter who thought of it first) would avoid building much more expensive and tricky enclosed ballparks with permanent or movable roofs. Montreal has been through that nightmare once and I think it’s safe to say we have no desire to endure it again.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field has a roof to protect it from the hot summers. Playing mid-summer games in Montreal would solve that problem. JULIO AGUILAR / GETTY IMAGES

By a happy coincidence, Florida would need a roof for the hot summers, Montreal for the chilly spring and fall. By splitting the schedule, neither city would require a ballpark with a roof.

There are still myriad questions, even if St. Petersburg agrees not to hold the Rays hostage through 2027. How would Montreal fans be served by a pennant race that would take place in Florida? What happens with post-season play? How is the player salary structure to be split?

All that makes my head hurt.

All I can say is that if this split-team concept becomes a reality and if the Ex-Rays have a playoff date on another Oct. 19 sometime in the future, I want to see that game played in Montreal, if only to exorcise the memory of Blue Monday.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://stpetersburgfoodies.com/podcast/interview-with-patrick-coleman-of-poppos-taqueria-st-petersburg-foodies-podcast-episode-61/

Interview with Patrick Coleman from Poppo's Taqueria

Welcome to the St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 61! Our featured interview today is with Patrick Coleman from Poppo's Taqueria. Poppo's specializes in unique to St. Pete, San Francisco-style, or Mission-style Mexican food. Our musician interview is with Nathan Allen, and we feature his song 'Fire'.

Listen right here with our player above, or use your favorite podcast listening app below.

Patrick and Arthur Coleman

The St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast features interviews with chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, bartenders, and more, and covers the burgeoning food scene in St. Petersburg, Florida. Episodes air every Tuesday.

This episode of the St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast is brought to you by Pacific Counter, Salty J's, The Brass Bowl Kitchen & Juicery, Buya Ramen, and Engine No. 9. Please keep them in mind the next time you are hungry for some fantastic food.

Our announcer is Candice Aviles from Food for Thought  and Channel 10 News. Our theme music is provided by The Chris Walker Band.

Links:

Poppo's Taqueria Website

Nathan Allen Music Website

MORE FOODIES READING  Interview #2 with Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe from Dr. BBQ The Restaurant – St. Petersburg Foodies Podcast Episode 26

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.theunsubs.com/wp/2019/10/30/episode-227-the-nothing/4583

Podcasts

Episode 227: The Nothing

Posted on October 30, 2019 AuthorMatthew Cox Comment(0)

Welp.

In this episode:

Louisville 2:1 Rowdies

Playoff Picture

Charleston/Fresno are fluxxed, or in flux, ahh flux it

http://magiccity.soccer/2019/07/24/the-miami-fc-return-to-pro-soccer-join-nisa/

The Miami FC Join NISA, Return to “Pro” Soccer

By Omar Moubayed on Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The Miami FC suffered a fate that very few soccer organizations around the world have had to deal with. About a year and a half ago, Miami was a team without a home.  With no other alternative than joining the National Premier Soccer League, a significant drop from the lofty heights of the second division NASL, the Orange and Blue had to settle for what they could get. It has been two years since they’ve played a full season of soccer. With Miami FC joining NISA (the newly-created National Independent Soccer Association) in the third division, this ensures that South Florida will have two full-season professional soccer teams from 2020.

Shunned From The Ranks
Imagine dominating professional soccer for an entire season and then being sent down two divisions. That’s the reality that the Orange and Blue have had to endure for the past sixteen months. The NPSL has been an adequate host for this club, but still there has been an aura lacking around the club. Attendance has fallen dramatically and changing venues three times since the collapse of the NASL hasn’t helped. By joining NISA, Miami is likely to attract greater advertising revenue and sponsors, giving the club more resources to work with.

No one would have faulted the organization for slashing their budget and cutting back on payroll. After the 2018 season, fellow NASL exiles Jacksonville Armada folded their first team and fielded a roster primarily comprised of college-level talent. The majority of NPSL clubs are amateur and Miami could have followed suit.

Then there was the exodus of players. Major credit was given to coach Paul Dalglish and Miami FC Vice President Darren McCartney as they were able to rebuild a roster on the fly.

The result? The 2018 National Championship trophy.

Despite only six players from that 2018 squad featuring in this current one, Miami are two wins away from being the first-ever repeat national champions in the NPSL.

NISA Teaser of Miami based club for their inaugural season. Image Courtesy of NISA
Image Courtesy of NISA
An In-Depth Look At NISA
NISA will be a fully sanctioned professional league under U.S. Soccer Federation Pro League Standard guidelines. This will be the first American league to run on the international soccer calendar (fall to spring). NISA clubs will earn automatic berths into the U.S. Open Cup.

The league has announced teams 10 teams that will participate in the inaugural season so far: Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Charlotte, Orange County (CA), Los Angeles, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Providence, San Diego, and Miami. Don’t be surprised if more clubs join NISA after the addition of Miami FC.